Joining Softbank and Didi Chuxing, Hyundai invests in Grab as the South Korean automaker’s first foray into Southeast Asia after suffering from a sales slump in China. The deal is said to raise the exposure of Hyundai in the region, while responding to the future mobility market January 11 2018, Written by: Nichakorn Prateepsawangwong
Chat application LINE says it is working to integrate cryptocurrencies into its messaging platform, in hope to encourage users to keep using its platform. It is reported that Line is in talks with several partners over possible collaborations around its payment service Line Pay and other products January 11 2018, Written by: Nichakorn Prateepsawangwong
Indonesia’s Bukalapak to build an R&D center in Bandung, West Java, to focus on researches on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and drone delivery. The facility is set to launch in mid-2018 while the ecommerce platform is also in talks with several local universities and the city’s Smart City team for a possible collaboration January 11 2018, Written by: Nichakorn Prateepsawangwong
Vietnam-based ecommerce platform for premium brands, Leflair, pockets $3 million during its Series A round led by Capital Management Group. The latest round of funding brings its aggregate equity financing to almost $5 million and will be used to draw in more international brands to Vietnam and improve tech platform and warehousing operations January 11 2018, Written by: Nichakorn Prateepsawangwong
AirAsia partners with Uber to enable users to book rides to the airport and back in the 52 cities in 16 markets across Asia Pacific and the US, where AirAsia and Uber are available. The partnership comes as part of AirAsia’s determination to ensure pleasant experience in-flight and outside the plane January 10 2018, Written by: Nichakorn Prateepsawangwong
Commercial banks in Thailand may soon launch new e-marketplaces should Bank of Thailand approves the regulations. Thailand’s second largest commercial bank, Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), is studying the opportunity of an e-marketplace if the approval goes through. Bank of Thailand has begun to conduct a public hearing already January 10 2018, Written by: Nichakorn Prateepsawangwong
